Oven appliance having a modular trim assembly for a hidden heating assembly

ABSTRACT

An oven appliance may include a cabinet, a plurality of chamber walls, a cooking plate, a bottom heating element, and a modular trim assembly. The cooking plate may define a cooking surface in an oven chamber. The modular trim assembly may be disposed above the bottom heating element in support of the cooking plate within the oven chamber. The modular trim assembly may include a first trim and a second trim. The first trim may be mounted within the oven chamber and disposed against a front end or a first lateral end. The second trim may be mounted within the oven chamber opposite of the first trim and disposed against a rear end or a second lateral end.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to oven appliances, andmore particularly, to heating assemblies of an oven appliance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional residential and commercial oven appliances generallyinclude a cabinet that includes a cooking chamber for receipt of fooditems for cooking. Multiple gas or electric heating elements arepositioned within the cabinet for heating the cooking chamber to cookfood items located therein. The heating elements can include, forexample, a bake heating assembly positioned at a bottom of the cookingchamber and a separate broiler heating assembly positioned at a top ofthe cooking chamber.

Typically, food or utensils for cooking are placed on wire racks withinthe cooking chamber and above the bake heating assembly. In someinstances, protective or radiant plates are positioned over the bakeheating assembly to protect the bake heating assembly or assist inevenly distributing heat across the bottom of the cooking chamber.Oftentimes, the wire racks are at least mounted well above a bakeheating assembly to ensure the bake heating assembly is not damaged or auser does not accidentally contact the bake heating assembly. When thebake heating assembly is activated, heat from the bake heating assemblyis thus forced to rise through an air gap, and any other intermediateelements, between the bake heating assembly and the wire rack before theutensil on the wire rack can be heated. Heat within the cooking chamberis relatively diffuse, and the temperature is generally consistent aboutthe item or items on the rack.

Although these conventional configurations are useful for many types offoods, there are certain disadvantages. For instance, certain food itemsbenefit from very high, localized (i.e., non-diffuse) heat. Oftentimes,stone or specialized high-heat pans are used for trapping heat againstthe bottom of flat-breads or pizza. Such pans may be difficult topreheat or maintain a specific temperature desired by the user. Althoughplacing a pan closer to a heating element may help heat the pan fasteror to a higher temperature, the pan may be difficult to secure orstabilize close to the heating element. High heat, in particular, maycreate difficulties in supporting or mounting any pan adjacent to aheating element.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an oven appliancecapable of safely generating high heat on a specific and secure cookingsurface (e.g., while hiding or protecting a heating element within theoven appliance).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thefollowing description, or may be obvious from the description, or may belearned through practice of the invention.

In one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an oven appliance isprovided. The oven appliance may include a cabinet, a plurality ofchamber walls, a cooking plate, a bottom heating element, and a modulartrim assembly. The cabinet may define an opening. The plurality ofchamber walls may be mounted within the cabinet. The plurality ofchamber walls may define an oven chamber accessible through the openingalong a transverse direction. The plurality of chamber walls may includea back wall, a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and abottom wall. The cooking plate may extend along the transverse directionbetween a front end and a rear end. The cooking plate may further extendalong the lateral direction between a first lateral end and a secondlateral end. The cooking plate may define a cooking surface in the ovenchamber between the bottom wall and the top wall. The bottom heatingelement may be mounted above the bottom wall to heat the cooking surfacewithin the oven chamber. The modular trim assembly may be disposed abovethe bottom heating element in support of the cooking plate within theoven chamber. The modular trim assembly may include a first trim and asecond trim. The first trim may be mounted within the oven chamber anddisposed against the front end or the first lateral end. The second trimmay be mounted within the oven chamber opposite of the first trim anddisposed against the rear end or the second lateral end.

In another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an oven applianceis provided. The oven appliance may include a cabinet, a plurality ofchamber walls, a cooking plate, a bottom heating element, and a modulartrim assembly. The cabinet may define an opening. The plurality ofchamber walls may be mounted within the cabinet. The plurality ofchamber walls may define an oven chamber accessible through the openingalong a transverse direction. The plurality of chamber walls may includea back wall, a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and abottom wall. The cooking plate may extend along the transverse directionbetween a front end and a rear end. The cooking plate may further extendalong the lateral direction between a first lateral end and a secondlateral end. The cooking plate may define a cooking surface in the ovenchamber between the bottom wall and the top wall. The bottom heatingelement may be mounted above the bottom wall to heat the cooking surfacewithin the oven chamber. The modular trim assembly may be disposed abovethe bottom heating element in support of the cooking plate within theoven chamber. The modular trim assembly may include a front trim, a reartrim, a first side trim, and a second side trim. The front trim mayextend laterally along the opening. The front trim may be disposedagainst the front end of the cooking plate. The rear trim may betransversely spaced from the front trim and extend laterally along theback wall. The rear trim may be disposed against the rear end of thecooking plate. The first side trim may extend transversely along thefirst side wall against the cooking plate from the front trim to therear trim. The second side trim may extend transversely along the secondside wall against the cooking plate from the front trim to the reartrim.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrateembodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is setforth in the specification, which makes reference to the appendedfigures.

FIG. 1 provides an elevation view of an oven appliance according toexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of an upper cooking chamber of theexemplary oven appliance of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 provides another perspective view of the upper cooking chamber ofthe exemplary oven appliance of FIG. 1 , wherein a cooking plate hasbeen omitted for clarity.

FIG. 4 provides yet another perspective view of the upper cookingchamber of the exemplary oven appliance of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of a side trim, in isolation, of theexemplary oven appliance of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 6 provides a perspective view of a rear trim, in isolation, of theexemplary oven appliance of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 7 provides a perspective view of a front trim, in isolation, of theexemplary oven appliance of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 8 provides a side elevation view of the exemplary front trim ofFIG. 7 .

FIG. 9 provides a perspective view of a cooking plate, in isolation, ofthe exemplary oven appliance of FIG. 2 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, notlimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope of theinvention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part ofone embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

As used herein, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive(i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). The terms“first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably todistinguish one component from another and are not intended to signifylocation or importance of the individual components. The terms“upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative flow direction withrespect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, “upstream” refersto the flow direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream”refers to the flow direction to which the fluid flows. The terms“coupled,” “fixed,” “attached to,” and the like refer to both directcoupling, fixing, or attaching, as well as indirect coupling, fixing, orattaching through one or more intermediate components or features,unless otherwise specified herein.

As disclosed herein, a modular trim assembly may be provided to secure acooking plate that can be directly cooked upon while covering or hidinga bottom heating assembly within an oven appliance.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplaryembodiment of a double oven appliance 100 according to the presentdisclosure.

Although aspects of the present subject matter are described herein inthe context of a double oven appliance 100, it should be appreciatedthat oven appliance 100 is provided by way of example only. Other ovenor range appliances having different configurations, differentappearances, or different features may also be utilized with the presentsubject matter as well (e.g., single ovens, electric cooktop ovens,induction cooktops ovens, etc.).

Generally, oven appliance 100 has a cabinet 101 that defines a verticaldirection V, a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T.The vertical, longitudinal and transverse directions are mutuallyperpendicular and form an orthogonal direction system. In this regard,as used herein, the terms “cabinet,” “housing,” and the like aregenerally intended to refer to an outer frame or support structure forappliance 100, e.g., including any suitable number, type, andconfiguration of support structures formed from any suitable materials,such as a system of elongated support members, a plurality ofinterconnected panels, or some combination thereof. It should beappreciated that cabinet 101 does not necessarily require an enclosureand may simply include open structure supporting various elements ofappliance 100. By contrast, cabinet 101 may enclose some or all portionsof an interior of cabinet 101. It should be appreciated that cabinet 101may have any suitable size, shape, and configuration while remainingwithin the scope of the present subject matter.

Double oven appliance 100 includes an upper oven 120 and a lower oven140 positioned below upper oven 120 along the vertical direction V.Upper and lower ovens 120 and 140 include oven or cooking chambers 122and 142, respectively, configured for the receipt of one or more fooditems to be cooked. Specifically, cabinet 101 defines a respectiveopening 123 for each cooking chamber 122 and 142. For instance, an upperopening 123 may be defined (e.g., along the transverse direction T) toaccess upper cooking chamber 122.

Double oven appliance 100 includes an upper door 124 and a lower door144 in order to permit selective access to cooking chambers 122 and 142,respectively (e.g., via the corresponding opening). Handles 102 aremounted to upper and lower doors 124 and 144 to assist a user withopening and closing doors 124 and 144 in order to access cookingchambers 122 and 142. As an example, a user can pull on handle 102mounted to upper door 124 to open or close upper door 124 and accesscooking chamber 122. Glass window panes 104 provide for viewing thecontents of cooking chambers 122 and 142 when doors 124, 144 are closedand also assist with insulating cooking chambers 122 and 142.Optionally, a seal or gasket (e.g., gasket 114) extends between eachdoor 124, 144 and cabinet 101 (e.g., when the corresponding door 124 or144 is in the closed position). Such gasket may assist with maintainingheat and cooking fumes within the corresponding cooking chamber 122 or142 when the door 124 or 144 is in the closed position. Moreover,heating elements, such as electric resistance heating elements, gasburners, microwave elements, etc., are positioned within upper and loweroven 120 and 140.

A control panel 106 of double oven appliance 100 provides selections foruser manipulation of the operation of double oven appliance 100. Forexample, a user can touch control panel 106 to trigger one of userinputs 108. In response to user manipulation of user inputs 108, variouscomponents of the double oven appliance 100 can be operated. Controlpanel 106 may also include a display 112, such as a digital display,operable to display various parameters (e.g., temperature, time, cookingcycle, etc.) of the double oven appliance 100.

Generally, oven appliance 100 may include a controller 110 in operativecommunication (e.g., operably coupled via a wired or wireless channel)with control panel 106. Control panel 106 of oven appliance 100 may bein communication with controller 110 via, for example, one or moresignal lines or shared communication busses, and signals generated incontroller 110 operate oven appliance 100 in response to user input viauser input devices 108. Input/Output (“I/O”) signals may be routedbetween controller 110 and various operational components of ovenappliance 100 such that operation of oven appliance 100 can be regulatedby controller 110.

Controller 110 is a “processing device” or “controller” and may beembodied as described herein. Controller 110 may include a memory andone or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, application-specificintegrated circuits (ASICS), CPUs or the like, such as general orspecial purpose microprocessors operable to execute programminginstructions or micro-control code associated with operation of ovenappliance 100, and controller 110 is not restricted necessarily to asingle element. The memory may represent random access memory such asDRAM, or read only memory such as ROM, electrically erasable,programmable read only memory (EEPROM), or FLASH. In one embodiment, theprocessor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memorymay be a separate component from the processor or may be includedonboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 110 may beconstructed without using a microprocessor (e.g., using a combination ofdiscrete analog or digital logic circuitry; such as switches,amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and thelike) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 through 4 , various views are providedillustrating, in particular, upper cooking chamber 122 of upper oven120. As shown, upper cooking chamber 122 is generally defined by a backwall 126, a top wall 128 and a bottom wall 130 spaced from top wall 128along the vertical direction V by opposing side walls 132 (e.g., a firstwall and a second wall). Optionally, a front plate 136 may be attachedto the walls to define the upper opening 123. For instance, front plate136 may extend along bottom wall 130, top wall 128, and the opposingside walls 132 about upper opening 123. In turn, gasket 114 may bemounted on or engaged with front plate 136 (e.g., when the correspondingupper door is closed). In some embodiments opposing side walls 132include embossed ribs 134 such that a baking rack containing food itemsmay be slidably received onto embossed ribs 134 and may be moved intoand out of upper cooking chamber 122 when door 124 is open. Optionally,such walls 126, 128, 130, 132 may be included within an outer casing 146of cabinet 101, as is understood.

As shown, upper oven includes one or more heating elements to heat uppercooking chamber 122 (e.g., as directed by controller 110 as part of acooking operation). For instance, a bottom heating element 150 may bemounted at a bottom portion of upper cooking chamber 122 (e.g., abovebottom wall 130). Additionally or alternatively, a top heating element152 may be mounted at a top portion of upper cooking chamber 122 (e.g.,below top wall 128). Bottom heating element 150 and top heating element152 may be used independently or simultaneously to heat upper cookingchamber 122, perform a baking or broil operation, perform a cleaningcycle, etc.

The heating elements 150, 152 may be provided as any suitable heater forgenerating heat within upper cooking chamber 122. For instance, eitherheating element may include an electric heating element (e.g.,resistance wire elements, radiant heating element, electric tubularheater or CALROD®, halogen heating element, etc.). Additionally oralternatively, either heating element may include a gas burner.

Referring still to FIGS. 2 through 4 , as well as FIG. 9 , in someembodiments, a cooking plate 154 is provided within upper cookingchamber 122. Specifically, cooking plate 154 is disposed above bottomheating element 150 and may generally cover the same. Along with beingdisposed above bottom heating element 150, cooking plate 154 is disposedbelow top heating element and may be disposed below (e.g., at a lowervertical height than) each of the embossed ribs. In certain embodiments,cooking plate 154 is located at or near the same vertical height as thebottommost edge of upper opening 123. Thus, cooking plate 154 maygenerally be disposed proximal to the lower end of the cooking chamber122.

When mounted within cooking chamber 122, cooking plate 154 extends alongthe transverse direction T between a front end 160 and a rear end 162,along the lateral direction L between a first lateral end 164 and asecond lateral end 166, and along the vertical direction V between anupper cooking surface 156 and a lower surface 158. The cooking surface156, in particular, is disposed between the bottom wall 130 and the topwall 128. Moreover, cooking surface 156 may be proximal to the bottomwall 130 and, thus, distal to the top wall 128. In some embodiments,cooking plate 154 is provided as a solid nonpermeable member. Thus, foodor fluids may be prevented from passing through cooking plate 154 (e.g.,along the vertical direction V or perpendicular to cooking surface 156).In certain embodiments, cooking plate 154 includes or is formed from aconductive metal material, such as cast iron, steel, or aluminum (e.g.,including alloys thereof). In additional or alternative embodiments,cooking plate 154 includes or is formed from a heat-retaining material,such as clay, stone (e.g., cordierite), ceramic, cast iron, orceramic-coated carbon steel.

As shown, the cooking plate 154 may be disposed directly above (e.g., invertical alignment with) the bottom heating element 150. Moreover,cooking plate 154 may define a horizontal footprint that spans acrosshorizontal footprint of bottom heating element 150. In turn, cookingplate 154 may fully cover bottom heating element 150. When mountedwithin cooking chamber 122, cooking plate 154 may block or otherwiseprevent access to bottom heating element 150, such as by a user reachinginto the cooking chamber 122. Additionally or alternatively, the bottomheating element 150 may be held out of view such that a user is unableto see the bottom heating element 150. During use, heat generated atbottom heating element 150 may be directed upward to a lower surface 158of cooking plate 154. As noted, bottom heating element 150 may bevertically aligned with (e.g., directly beneath) the cooking plate 154.The heat generated at bottom heating element 150 may thus be guidedprimarily or initially to the underside of cooking plate 154.

Turning now generally to FIGS. 4 through 9 , in certain embodiments,cooking plate 154 is supported or held within cooking chamber 122, atleast in part, by a modular trim assembly 170. As shown, the modulartrim assembly 170 is disposed, at least in part, above the bottomheating element 150. Moreover, the modular trim assembly 170 includesmultiple discrete pieces that may separately and independently engagecooking plate 154. For instance, the pieces of the modular trim assembly170 may vertically hold cooking plate 154 (e.g., at a predeterminedheight) such that cooking plate 154 is spaced apart from bottom heatingelement 150 (e.g., not in contact therewith). Additionally oralternatively, modular trim assembly 170 may restrict horizontalmovement of cooking plate 154 to ensure desired alignment relative tocooking chamber 122 or bottom heating element 150.

In some embodiments, the modular trim assembly 170 includes a front trim172 mounted adjacent to the front portion of cooking chamber 122.Specifically, front trim 172 may extend laterally (i.e., along thelateral direction L) along the opening 123. At least a portion of thelateral width of opening 123 may thus be spanned by front trim 172.Nonetheless, front trim 172 may be disposed, at least in part, belowopening 123 such that opening 123 is not blocked or otherwise reduced inusable height by front trim 172. Additionally or alternatively, fronttrim 172 may extend rearward (e.g., generally along the transversedirection T) from opening 123 or toward back wall 126. Optionally, fronttrim 172 may be mounted or secured to front plate 136, such as by one ormore suitable fasteners, welds, or adhesives. Additionally oralternatively, front trim 172 may be mounted or secured (e.g., directly)to bottom wall 130, such as by one or more suitable fasteners, welds, oradhesives.

Turning especially to FIGS. 7 and 8 , front trim 172 may include a lowerflange 174 to extend beneath the cooking plate 154. For instance, lowerflange 174 may extend rearward from opening 123 along the transversedirection T. As shown, lower flange 174 may extend from a secured base176. Secured base 176 may, as an example, contact or engage front plate136 for support thereon. When mounted within cooking chamber 122, lowerflange 174, in particular, may be disposed below (e.g., at a lowervertical height than) opening 123. In some embodiments, a vertical ridge178 extends upward from lower flange 174. As shown, vertical ridge 178may extend between or connect lower flange 174 and secured base 176.Thus, lower flange 174 may be transversely and vertically offset fromsecured base 176. In optional embodiments, front trim 172 includes arestraint tongue 180 extending upward from the lower flange 174 apart(e.g., rearward) from the vertical ridge 178. The restraint tongue 180may be offset from the vertical ridge 178 along the transverse directionT and may be disposed at the distal edge of lower flange 174 (e.g., thefurthest edge of lower flange 174 from opening 123). Additionally oralternatively, restraint tongue 180 may define a vertical height that isless than the vertical height of vertical ridge 178. Thus, whilerestraint tongue 180 and vertical ridge 178 may both extend vertically(e.g., upward) from lower flange 174, restraint tongue 180 may extendless than (i.e., to a lower height than) vertical ridge 178 or securedbase 176.

As shown, cooking plate 154 may rest on top of front trim 172.Specifically, the lower surface 158 may be supported on lower flange174. In turn, lower flange 174 may limit downward vertical movement ofcooking plate 154. Vertical ridge 178 may be disposed in front of andagainst the front end 160 of cooking plate 154, thereby restrictingforward transverse movement of cooking plate 154. Optionally, restrainttongue 180 may extend upward and within a corresponding groove 168defined by cooking plate 154 (e.g., at the lower surface 158). Thus,cooking plate 154 may be further held in place (e.g., relative to thetransverse direction T) by restraint tongue 180.

Turning especially to FIGS. 4 and 8 , the modular trim assembly 170includes a rear trim 182 mounted adjacent to the rear portion of cookingchamber 122. Specifically, rear trim 182 may extend laterally (i.e.,along the lateral direction L) along the back wall 126. At least aportion of the lateral width of back wall 126 may thus be spanned byrear trim 182. When assembled, front trim 172 may be disposed, at leastin part, below opening 123. Additionally or alternatively, rear trim 182may extend forward (e.g., generally along the transverse direction T)from back wall 126 or toward opening 123. Optionally, rear trim 182 maybe mounted or secured to back wall 126 (e.g., a lateral ridge thereon),such as by one or more suitable fasteners, welds, or adhesives.

In some embodiments, rear trim 182 includes a lower back flange 184 toextend beneath the cooking plate 154. For instance, lower back flange184 may extend forward from back wall 126 along the transverse directionT. As shown, lower back flange 184 may extend from a secured back base186. Secured back base 186 may, as an example, contact or engage aportion of back wall 126 for support thereon. When mounted withincooking chamber 122, lower back flange 184, in particular, may bedisposed below (e.g., at a lower vertical height than) opening 123. Insome embodiments, a vertical back ridge 188 extends upward from lowerback flange 184. As shown, vertical back ridge 188 may extend between orconnect lower back flange 184 and secured back base 186. Thus, lowerback flange 184 may be transversely and vertically offset from securedback base 186. In optional embodiments, rear trim 182 defines one ormore one or more transverse channels 190 therethrough. For instance,between the secured back base 186 and the lower back flange 184, atleast one transverse channel 190 may be defined through rear trim 182along the transverse direction T. Optionally, a pair of discretetransverse channels 190 (i.e., a first transverse channel 190 and asecond transverse channel 190) may be defined. Specifically, thetransverse channels 190 may be spaced apart from each other along thelateral direction L. In some such embodiments, vertical back ridge 188is disposed between the pair of transverse channels 190.

Generally, rear trim 182 is spaced apart (e.g., rearward) from fronttrim 172. When mounted within cooking chamber 122, cooking plate 154 mayrest on top of rear trim 182. Specifically, the lower surface 158 may besupported on lower back flange 184. In turn, lower back flange 184 maylimit downward vertical movement of cooking plate 154. Vertical backridge 188 may be disposed behind and against the rear end 162 of cookingplate 154, thereby restricting rearward transverse movement of cookingplate 154.

Turning especially to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the modular trim assembly 170includes one or more side trims 192 mounted adjacent to a correspondingside portion of cooking chamber 122 (e.g., removably mounted). In somesuch embodiments, discrete, laterally spaced apart side trims 192 arepositioned at each side wall 132. As would be understood, first andsecond side trims 192 may be formed as mirrored elements. Thus, it willbe understood that the below discussion of a first side trim 192 mountedon first side wall 132 may also apply to a second side trim 192.

As shown, side trim 192 may extend laterally (i.e., along the lateraldirection L) along the corresponding wall (e.g., first side wall 132).At least a portion of the transverse depth of the corresponding sidewall 132 may thus be spanned by side trim 192. When assembled, side trim192 may be disposed, at least in part, below opening 123. Alternatively,side trim 192 may be disposed, at least in part, above a lower limit ofopening 123 or in a common plane with the lower limit of the opening123. Additionally or alternatively, side trim 192 may extend inward(e.g., generally along the lateral direction L) from the correspondingside wall 132 or toward the opposite side wall 132. Optionally, sidetrim 192 may be (e.g., removably) mounted or secured to the front trim172, such as by one or more suitable fasteners, welds, or adhesives.Additionally or alternatively, side trim 192 may be (e.g., removably)mounted or secured to another portion of modular trim assembly 170 orcabinet 101, including front plate 136, back wall 126, rear trim 182,bottom wall 130, cooking plate 154, or a corresponding side wall 132,such as by one or more suitable fasteners, welds, or adhesives.

In some embodiments, side trim 192 may include an upper side flange 194to extend on (e.g., over or on top of) the cooking plate 154. Forinstance, upper side flange 194 may extend inward from the correspondingside wall 132 along the lateral direction L. As shown, a side base 196may extend from upper side flange 194. Side base 196 may, as an example,contact or engage a portion of the corresponding side wall 132 forsupport thereon or to otherwise cover a portion of cabinet 101 belowupper side flange. Optionally, a side ridge 198 between upper sideflange 194 and side base 196 so as to form a groove or channel. Thus,side ridge 198 connect upper side flange 194 and side base 196, such asto provide rigidity to side trim 192 or accommodate another portion ofappliance 100 within cooking chamber 122.

As shown, side trims 192 may extend between front trim 172 and rear trim182. Optionally, each side trim 192 may extend through a correspondingtransverse channel 190. For instance, first side trim 192 may extendthrough a first transverse channel 190 while second side trim 192extends through a second transverse channel 190. Thus, the side trims192 may be held below at least a portion of rear trim 182. When mountedwithin cooking chamber 122, the side trims 192 may rest on cooking plate154 (e.g., on cooking surface 156). Specifically, each upper side flange194 may be supported on cooking surface 156. In turn, upper side flange194 may limit upward vertical movement of cooking plate 154. Each sideridge 198 may be disposed at a corresponding lateral end 164 or 166 ofcooking plate 154. Optionally, each side ridge 198 may laterally boundcooking plate 154 and thereby restrict lateral movement of cooking plate154.

Optionally, cooking plate 154 may be supported on modular trim assembly170 without any fasteners directly securing or fixing cooking plate 154to modular trim assembly 170. Thus, in a mounted state, cooking plate154 may be notably free of any fastener thereon.

Advantageously, appliances or assemblies in accordance with the presentdisclosure may provide a secure cooking surface within a cooking chamberthat is capable of withstanding high-heat operations (e.g., while hidingor protecting a bottom heating element within the oven appliance).Additionally or alternatively, appliances or assemblies in accordancewith the present disclosure may provide a secure cooking surface that ispermitted to thermally expand while remaining supported within oven theoven appliance.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An oven appliance defining a vertical, a lateral,and a transverse direction, the oven appliance comprising: a cabinetdefining an opening; a plurality of chamber walls mounted within thecabinet, the plurality of chamber walls defining an oven chamberaccessible through the opening along the transverse direction, theplurality of chamber walls comprising a back wall, a top wall, a firstside wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall; a cooking plateextending along the transverse direction between a front end and a rearend, the cooking plate extending along the lateral direction between afirst lateral end and a second lateral end, the cooking plate defining acooking surface in the oven chamber between the bottom wall and the topwall; a bottom heating element mounted above the bottom wall to heat thecooking surface within the oven chamber; and a modular trim assemblydisposed above the bottom heating element in support of the cookingplate within the oven chamber, the modular trim assembly comprising afirst trim mounted within the oven chamber and disposed against thefront end or the first lateral end, and a second trim mounted within theoven chamber opposite of the first trim and disposed against the rearend or the second lateral end.
 2. The oven appliance of claim 1, whereinthe first trim is a front trim extending laterally along the opening,the front trim being disposed against the front end of the cookingplate, and wherein the second trim is a rear trim transversely spacedfrom the front trim and extending laterally along the back wall, therear trim being disposed against the rear end of the cooking plate. 3.The oven appliance of claim 2, wherein the cabinet comprises a frontplate extending along the bottom wall, the top wall, the first sidewall, and the second side wall, wherein the front plate defines theopening, and wherein the front trim is mounted to the front plate. 4.The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the first trim comprises a lowerflange extending beneath the cooking plate to limit vertical movementthereof, and a vertical ridge extending upward from the lower flange infront of the cooking plate to limit transverse movement of the cookingplate.
 5. The oven appliance of claim 4, wherein the first trim furthercomprises a restraint tongue extending upward from the lower flangewithin a corresponding groove defined by the cooking plate beneath thecooking surface.
 6. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the secondtrim comprises a lower flange extending beneath the cooking plate tolimit vertical movement thereof, and a vertical ridge extending upwardfrom the lower flange behind the cooking plate to limit transversemovement of the cooking plate.
 7. The oven appliance of claim 2, whereinthe modular trim assembly further comprises a first side trim extendingtransversely along the first side wall on the cooking surface from thefront trim to the rear trim, and a second side trim extendingtransversely along the second side wall on the cooking surface from thefront trim to the rear trim.
 8. The oven appliance of claim 7, whereinthe first and second side trims are separately mounted to the fronttrim.
 9. The oven appliance of claim 7, wherein the rear trim defines afirst transverse channel and a second transverse channel laterallyspaced apart from the first transverse channel, wherein the first sidetrim is received within the first transverse channel, and wherein thesecond side trim is received within the second transverse channel. 10.The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the cooking plate is a solidnonpermeable member preventing fluid passage therethrough.
 11. An ovenappliance defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction,the oven appliance comprising: a cabinet defining an opening; aplurality of chamber walls mounted within the cabinet, the plurality ofchamber walls defining an oven chamber accessible through the openingalong the transverse direction, the plurality of chamber wallscomprising a back wall, a top wall, a first side wall, a second sidewall, and a bottom wall; a cooking plate extending along the transversedirection between a front end and a rear end, the cooking plate defininga cooking surface in the oven chamber between the bottom wall and thetop wall, the cooking plate being a solid nonpermeable member preventingfluid passage therethrough; a bottom heating element mounted above thebottom wall to heat the cooking surface within the oven chamber; and amodular trim assembly disposed above the bottom heating element insupport of the cooking plate within the oven chamber, the modular trimassembly comprising a front trim extending laterally along the opening,the front trim being disposed against the front end of the cookingplate, a rear trim transversely spaced from the front trim and extendinglaterally along the back wall, the rear trim being disposed against therear end of the cooking plate, a first side trim extending transverselyalong the first side wall against the cooking plate from the front trimto the rear trim, and a second side trim extending transversely alongthe second side wall against the cooking plate from the front trim tothe rear trim.
 12. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the cabinetcomprises a front plate extending along the bottom wall, the top wall,the first side wall, and the second side wall, wherein the front platedefine the opening, and wherein the front trim is mounted to the frontplate.
 13. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the front trimcomprises a lower flange extending beneath the cooking plate to limitvertical movement thereof, and a vertical ridge extending upward fromthe lower flange in front of the cooking plate to limit transversemovement of the cooking plate.
 14. The oven appliance of claim 13,wherein the front trim further comprises a restraint tongue extendingupward from the lower flange within a corresponding groove defined bythe cooking plate beneath the cooking surface.
 15. The oven appliance ofclaim 11, wherein the rear trim comprises a lower flange extendingbeneath the cooking plate to limit vertical movement thereof, and avertical ridge extending upward from the lower flange behind the tolimit transverse movement of the cooking plate.
 16. The oven applianceof claim 11, wherein the first side trim is disposed on the cookingsurface, and wherein the second side trim is disposed on the cookingsurface.
 17. The oven appliance of claim 16, wherein the first andsecond side trims are separately mounted to the front trim.
 18. The ovenappliance of claim 16, wherein the rear trim defines a first transversechannel and a second transverse channel laterally spaced apart from thefirst transverse channel, wherein the first side trim is received withinthe first transverse channel, and wherein the second side trim isreceived within the second transverse channel.